This week’s RPG crowdfunding projects through Kickstarter and IndieGoGo end by October 1st. These project include new rules, settings, and expansions to Scion, D&D, Monster of the Week, Delve, OpenQuest, and more. Beyond the normal types of projects, there’s a card-based RPG and a campaign to fund a gaming convention online; all of these are worth a quick look. Thinking of running a RPG crowdfunding campaign? Morrus shares his thoughts on your best options here. There’s a lot of insight and some numbers to consider, it’s all well worth the time.
Scion: Demigod - Book 3 for the Scion Second Edition RPG from Onyx Path Publishing
Into the Fey - A Fifth Edition Module for Levels 1-5 from The DM Lair 
Atma: A Roleplaying Card Game from Meromorph Games
The Devil's Bridge: A 5th Edition Slavic Adventure from Yellow Madhouse
OpenQuest 3rd Edition from D101 Games
Laser Ponies: An RPG for Everybody from Hex Games
RPG Quick Hits
The Red Opera RPG from Apotheosis Studios
- END DATE: Thu, October 1 2020 2:00 PM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): Storypath System
- PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $55 + S/H for the PDF, POD, and print versions of the book
“Scion: Demigod - Book 3 for the Scion Second Edition Tabletop Roleplaying Game. As a Hero, a Scion becomes a figure of myth and story, an exemplar of some virtue of their chosen society or the culture they’re born into. Even before their Visitation, the children of the Gods are a breed apart. But some want more than this lesser form of immortality, forever in the shadow of their parents. The golden ichor within the Scion’s heart sears and cooks them, ever burning away any human frailties of the Scion and driving them toward more audacious Deeds. They seek to become truly transformational figures, leaving The World forever different in their wake. At the fifth dot of Legend, it all reaches a tipping point, where the Scion is formed more of divine ichor than mortal flesh —more immortal than mortal, a true Demigod. They have declared to The World that they will not be pawns of Fate, but players in their own right. They will succeed in becoming a God, or they will die with their failure. Everything up to this point was your prologue. Now it’s time to live your myth. Scion: Demigod continues the path set down by Scion: Origin and Scion: Hero, expanding Scion Second Edition’s power level and charting the next level of power tiers for the Scions of the Gods.”
- END DATE: Thu, October 1 2020 4:27 AM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
- PROJECT TYPE: Adventure module
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $50 + S/H for the PDF and print of the book plus the PDF of one-shot adventures
“A 5th edition compatible adventure module themed around the Fey and featuring new creatures, magic items, and spells. A project by Luke Hart from The DM Lair YouTube channel. Into the Fey is an adventure module designed for the Fifth Edition of the world’s most popular roleplaying game that takes a party of four to six adventurers from level 1 to 5. It contains a variety of interesting and unique adventures--featuring lots of new fey creatures, magic items, and even spells--and professionally made maps and artwork. Into the Fey was created with not just players but also game masters in mind. It is well-organized with individual adventures designed to be easy to reference and use at the game table. Several plot hooks are presented for each adventure, suggesting different ways a game master might introduce the quest to their players, and roleplaying guidelines are provided for important NPCs.”
Atma: A Roleplaying Card Game from Meromorph Games
- END DATE: Mon, September 28 2020 8:00 PM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): An original system
- PROJECT TYPE: Core RPG card game
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $40 + S/H for “Interlude I: 1 stage, 4 characters, dice and tokens [and] Act I: 3 stages, 8 characters, dice and tokens”
“A full-fledged RPG in 2 hours. For roleplaying novices and experts alike. Atma is a complete roleplaying game in a tiny package. It's portable, quick to set up and teach, and plays in just 2 hours — perfect for game nights or pop-up sessions! A Game Master and 1-4 players use illustrated tarot cards to fuel RPG gameplay focused on creativity and quick thinking. Atma excels as a tutorial for first-time GMs who've always wanted to run an RPG, while also allowing limitless creativity for roleplaying pros.”
- END DATE: Thu, October 1 2020 6:59 AM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
- PROJECT TYPE: Adventure module
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: £19 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the book
“A haunting tale combining Slavic folklore with classic DnD fantasy. Inspired by myths & legends ingrained in real historical locations. The Devil's Bridge is an adventure for levels 1-5, for the most famous role-playing game in the World. It is inspired by Slavic folklore and based around a real place in Bulgaria and the legends surrounding it. Behind the project is Yellow Madhouse - a group of friends united by our love for roleplaying games and mythology. We have made it our mission to bring Slavic folklore to 5e and this adventure is the first step! In order to stay true to the stories of old, we're also working closely with Docent Doctor Vihra Baeva from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences as a consultant in the fields of ethnology and folklore. We have delved deep into the mysterious ruins and vestiges of a time long gone in real locations in Bulgaria, and the local legends surrounding them. The Devil's bridge is a haunting site, wrapped in dark and dramatic folklore tales. These stories unlocked a sense of adventure and curiosity within us. The ancient secrets of the bridge are embedded in every stone, awaiting to be uncovered by you.”
OpenQuest 3rd Edition from D101 Games
- END DATE: Thu, October 1 2020 3:46 AM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): D100
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: £10 for the PDF and POD of the book
“OpenQuest is a straightforward, easy to play D100 role-playing game. Inspired by the tremendous D100 rulesets put out in the late 1970s and 1980s, OpenQuest uses the Legend SRD as a base and includes innovations from more recent indie RPGs to give it a modern edge. OpenQuest is a game of fantasy adventure. It takes place in the imagination of its players, in worlds where dragons live, and magic exists and works! The players can take on the roles of brave warriors, crafty thieves, mysterious sorcerers and any other type of fantasy character.”
Laser Ponies: An RPG for Everybody from Hex Games
- END DATE: Thu, October 1 2020 6:59 AM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): Quick Action Game System (QAGS)
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $15 for the PDF and POD of the game
- NOTE: From one of the authors of
- FOLLOW UP: Yes, I just wanted to use that tag
“An all-ages tabletop RPG of magical ponies who shoot lasers from their eyes! Feel the Pony Power! On a faraway magical world, in the heart of Glitter Valley, there lives a tribe of beautiful creatures known as the Laser Ponies. These ponies romp, frolic, and play. They hold tea parties. And, when they need to, they shoot lasers out of their eyes. Only the Laser Ponies can defend the creatures of the valley from the evil Chasm Queen and her army of monsters. Laser Ponies is the action-packed-yet-adorable cartoon you always wanted to see, filled with magic, wonder, and adventure, brought to life as a tabletop role-playing game for players of all ages! Hex Games is proud to present the second edition of Laser Ponies, which is revised and greatly expanded from the original.”
RPG Quick Hits
The Red Opera RPG from Apotheosis Studios
- END DATE: Thu, October 1 2020 6:00 PM EDT.
- “5E Campaign and Setting in a City Where Warlocks Reign Eternal.”
- END DATE: Wed, September 30 2020
- NOTE: This campaign is available through IndieGoGo
- “A City Book for Delve Second Edition.”
- END DATE: Tue, September 29 2020 6:24 AM EDT.
- “A tabletop RPG of Cyberpunk & Sorcery, set in a dystopian 2090.”
- END DATE: Mon, September 28 2020 11:00 PM EDT.
- “A weird fantasy adventure module compatible with 5E.”
- END DATE: Thu, October 1 2020 12:02 PM EDT.
- “53 original, non-appropriative, ready-to-use monsters for the PbtA hit Monster of the Week! Draw a card and start the hunt!”
- END DATE: Wed, September 30 2020 12:12 PM EDT.
- “A collection of instant Bounty Hunts for Fifth Edition D&D, designed to easily implement into your campaign!”
- END DATE: Thu, October 1 2020 9:46 AM EDT.
- “Explore the world of Titanholm and embark on a whimsical adventure immersed in a volatile mixture of science and magic.”
- END DATE: Wed, September 30 2020 7:00 PM EDT.
- “Fires of Athelen is a new d20 Tabletop RPG with an authentic locational combat system and a unique sorcery magic system. 1/Sept/2020.”
- END DATE: Sun, September 27 2020 2:00 PM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
- PROJECT TYPE: RPG accessory
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: CA$22 + CA$8 US S/H for “Bag of Tricks Reference Cards, 1x Dice Pack (includes three D8's), Velvet Drawstring Bag, Wooden Creature Size Token, [and] Linen Cardstock Card Sleeve”
- “A classic D&D magic item re-imagined as an innovative and immersive tabletop player experience; featuring original artwork and more!”
- END DATE: Wed, September 30 2020 10:00 PM EDT.
- PROJECT TYPE: Gaming convention
- CONVENTION LOCATION: Online
- CONVENTION DATES: November 6th through the 8th, 2020
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $3 for access to play and GM during the online gathering
- NOTE: In April 2019, I asked Craig Campbell of NerdBurger Games to recommend an RPG-related Kickstarter, he chose last year’s ArcadeCon 2019, read his response here
- “Dayton Ohio's own 3-day tabletop gaming convention returns November 6th - 8th, 2020. RPG/Board/Card games & More is going virtual!”
